Portumna GAALotto: Numbers: 2, 12, 16, 23. No Jackpot winner. Two match 3's were Robert Carty and Peter O'Rourke. Annual lotto is available please contact Celia/Fiona. Weekly lotto can be purchased on line www.locallotto.ie

Membership: Player Membership is now due for all grades and must be paid before training starts.

Borrisokane Athletic Club 10k Road race, Walk & Fun Run 2013
On Monday March 18th we will be once again holding our 10k. Our entry fee will remain the same as last year at 15 euro. We will be giving prizes to the top six male and female finishers with a top prize of 350 euro. We are also putting a 100 euro course record bonus up for grabs. As it stands the Mens record is 34 minutes and 03 seconds. Womens record is 36 minutes 53 seconds. So if you or anyone in your club is up for the challenge please come along on the day. The race will start at 1. We will be taking entries on the day or you can enter online at http://www.activeglobal.com/running/borrisokane-ireland/borrisokane-10k-road-race-fun-run-and-walk-2013

We will have our 2k fun run event once again for anybody under 16 starting at 12 o'clock- entry on the day at 5 euro. Anybody following Operation Transformation will be pleased to know that Borrisokane man and operation transformation leader Greg Starr will be participating in this race. We will be serving refreshments afterwards.

Shorelines Arts Festival
Shorelines 6th Arts Festival are planning a major Durational Installation Art Project on Portumna Bridge, where the River Shannon meets Lough Derg. Our project-Shore to Shore Bridge Bombing- will incorporate visual 3-dimensional netting on the bridge, on which will hang various community art symbols of what this river means to the people who live in Portumna. It will also be a feature of Portumna's involvement in "The Gathering."

Kathryn O'Brien, Fine Art and Textile Artist will facilitate the creation of the piece. Shortly, there will be a series of workshops in Portumna where the local Voluntary Groups from Scouts to Active Retirement Group, Sign Out Youth Café to Ability West, Portumna Retirement Village to Acorn to Oak Creche will all be invited to participate.

Kathryn is researching the history of the Shannon and hopes to incorporate the carved heads of the bridges that span the Shannon in the installation piece. Yarn, textile and wool will be the media used for this ambitious but spectacular idea. Kathryn has vast experience in big projects – in particular, her facilitation of "The Knitting Map Of Cork" and her most recent project "The Pilgim's Coat" is based on the famous Yeats poem "He wishes for the cloths of Heaven" and is planned for the new library in Tullamore.

If you would like to get involved then call 087 2931055 or 086 3151262.

European Award for Portumna Retirement Village
The reputation of Portumna Retirement Village as one of the leading nursing home centres in Ireland was further enhanced last week when it achieved a Runners Up prize at the European Business Excellence Awards 2013 held at the Cascais Mirage, Cascais, in Portugal. Portumna Retirement Village was recognised for the impact that it has had on the local community since it opened in December 2007, not only in terms of its standard of healthcare but also because of the financial impact the business has had on the area since it opened. Since opening, the centre has demonstrated substantial support for local community groups and to local businesses. The centre employs sixty- six local people.

Portumna Sign Out Youth Project
Portumna 'Sign-Out' Youth Cafe welcomes young people from Portumna town and the surrounding areas to avail of the many recreational facilities provided in our club. The Cafe/Club is open three evenings per week - Wednesday evenings for 1st years @ 7.00-8.30pm. Thursday evenings for 2nd and 3rd Years @ 7:30-9pm. Fridays for TY upwards @ 7:30-10pm. Times still available for All-Weather Pitch hire, contact Lizzy on 087 6779267 for bookings.

Congratulations to the talented and young Portumna band "Fault In The System", who are through to the "All Ireland Schools Got Talent Search" competition semi-final, to be held this coming Saturday, 23rd January, at The Royal Theatre, Castlebar. The band do all their rehearsing in 'Sign Out', along with other budding musicians on Saturdays, at 'Sign Out Sessions' (S.O.S.). The directors and members of Portumna 'Sign Out' Youth Cafe would like to take this opportunity to wish "Fault In The System", the very best of luck and feel privileged to be involved with this superb young band, and to be able to provide this service to all local young musicians.

Daffodil Day
Daffodil Day will take place on Friday 22nd March and once again, we are looking for your support. If you have an hour to spare on the day, please contact Marie Gunning on 087-2358585 or if you have a business, perhaps you could take some merchandise to sell. All help will be greatly appreciated.

Litter Problem at Portumna Swimming Area
Unfortunately, and once again, illegal dumping is taking place in one of the most scenic areas in Portumna Town. This matter has been reported to the County Council and Environment Department and the area is being monitored at present by the Community Warden(s). Tidy Towns group is embarking on its Spring Clean up and the situation regarding this type of activity does not help. Portumna has a lot to offer both locals and visitors with its natural amenities like the Forest, Lough Derg, boating and sailing and more and more we all need to make an effort to make our town a community and place to live in and visit. We appeal to one and all to get out there and do your bit! We thank you for your co-operation over the last couple of years.

Portumna & District Lions Club - Table Quiz
Table Quiz - Friday, 22nd February @ 9pm The Boathouse. Organised by the local branch of The Lions Club, all proceeds are in aid of Team Cian. Supporting 4 year old Cian Connolly currently underging treatment in Crumlin Hospital. Adult Table of 4: €20, Students: €10. Don't be shy – you can turn up by yourself. Please come and support this worthwhile cause!

Portumna Bingo
Bingo every Saturday night in the Town Hall Portumna at 8.00pm and this weeks jackpot is 2550 in 45 numbers or less.

The Engine Room Fitness & Wellbeing Centre
Are currently taking names of interested people for new courses for March/April in the following: Spinning, Kettlebells, Spin & Tone, Zumba, Yoga & Boxercise/Kickfit. If interested or for further information please email info@engineroomportumna.ie or call Sarah on 087-2117262.

South East Galway Archaeological and Historical Society
South East Galway Archaeological and Historical Society host a lecture by Dr Pat Finnegan, Professor Emeritus NUI Galway and retired consultant physician, University Hospital Galway, entitled; 'The Case of the Craughwell Prisoners'. In Donie O'Mearas, Portumna on Tuesday 26th of February at 8.30pm. New members are very welcome. Dr Finnegan, is the grandson of one of the men wrongly executed, and last year 2012 published a truly informative book on the topic entitled The Case of the Craughwell Prisoners during the Land War in Co. Galway, 1879-85.

Killimor GAA
Last weeks lotto numbers were 7, 20, 24 and 29. The jackpot was €9,300. Last weeks 5 lucky dip winners(€20) were Trish Brien, Lauren Lyons, Stephen Madden, Mairead Mooney and Sinead Keane. Next week's jackpot is €9,400 which will be held in Nevin's.

Scoil Mhuire Gortanumera and Gortanumera Development Association - Table Quiz
Scoil Mhuire Gortanumera and Gortanumera Development Association are holding a joint Table Quiz in McDonaghs Kilcorban on Fri 1st Mar at 8.30pm. Lots of spot prizes and €200 in prizes to be won. Please support.

Abbey 10K Challenge
The inaugural Abbey 10K takes place in Abbey (Loughrea Co Galway) on Sunday 17th March 2013. The race starts in Abbey Village at 1.00pm. The entry fee is €20.00 and one can register on line at www.runireland.com or www.activeglobal.com or entries will be taken on the day in the Community Centre from 11.00am to 12.00 noon. The course has been measured by AIMS/IAAF Measurer Mr TJ Beatty (Loughrea) using the Jones Counter method of measurement.

There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for Senior men and Women. 1st Over 40 man and Woman. 1st Over 50 man and woman. 1st over 60 man and woman. 1st over 70 man and woman. 1st Junior man/woman. There will be refreshments in the Community Centre in the village centre for all athletes after the race. The presentation of prizes will take place in Abbey Community Centre after the completion of the race.

Contact Gerry Larkin on 086-8163581 or gerryplarkin@eircom.net or abbeycomm@eircom.net. A warm welcome awaits all athletes and supporters to Abbey Village on Sunday March 17th next.

Irish Blood Transfusion Service Board
Will be in the Lorrha/Dorrha GAA Centre Moatfield. Clinic times are Tues 26th Feb from 3pm-5pm & 7pm-9.30 pm. For more information feel free to contact Noel on 0870947691 or 0867231377 or email : noelgmadden@eircom.net.

Sinead Keon - World Dwarf Games
Sinead Keon is going to the World Dwarf Games in Michigan, USA in August this year. We are fundraising for her trip and will be holding a fundraising night in Elsies, Woodford on Saturday 23rd February. Raffle tickets are available to buy now: contact 086 0583170. All monies raised will go towards the cost of the trip and the remainder to Irish Wheelchair Association Sports.

St Patrick's Day Parade
Once again the businesses and voluntary groups of Portumna are asked to get on board the 2013 St Patrick's Day Parade. With categories to suit all and prizes galore, Portumna will come alive at 12.30 on St Patrick's Day with floats, music and craic. Visiting floats are also welcome. Watch this space for registration and contact details over the coming weeks.

The Ormond Cineplex Nenagh - Movie Times
Programme for Fri 22nd to Thurs 28th February